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God is for God

Writer's picture:  @thehonestworshippodcast @thehonestworshippodcast

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I believe it is becoming more and more evident that the greatest danger facing the Church today lies within itself. The slightest manipulations and misinterpretations of Scripture have produced an enormous output of false doctrines in our world, and the root of the issue is not hard to find. We have failed to scripturally answer the question: who is God? The lack of foundational teaching on the attributes of God has led many to believe in doctrines that God’s very Word would deny.


One of these fundamental attributes that must be emphasized is a God who does EVERYTHING for the glory of His name. Everything. There has never been and will never be a work of God in heaven or on earth that did not bring glory to His name. I want to examine some verses in scripture and bring to light how from the beginning of time, God has acted in accordance with this truth and I hope it will lead us into true worship.


There has never been and will never be a work of God in heaven or on earth that did not bring glory to His name.

1. God created the world for his own glory.

Many Pastors preach about God's intention in creation. Some of the most absurd conclusions have emerged from a lack of understanding who God is. I have heard that God was lonely, God was merely a concept that needed to be a reality, or God needed to have companionship. I want to remind everyone that God is fully sufficient in himself and is not in need of anything. God has always been and will always be- whether man realizes it or not. God’s intention in creation was for his creation to glorify Him. King David puts it this way,


“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”- Psalms 19:1 ESV

All that we see displays the majesty of God’s work in creation. Creation is a declaration of his glory, a visual proclamation of a beautiful designer and a reminder to us all that not one of them was created to bring glory to another name. Not only do we see God’s grand purpose in the heavens, but in mankind as well. God speaks to the prophet Isaiah saying,


“I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."” - Isaiah 43:6-7 ESV

Man was made in His image and formed for His glory. There is no argument to this verse's purpose, context, or application. When God says He did it for His glory, He means that what He did had one purpose, and that purpose was fulfilled regardless of how we feel or interpret it. In the letter to Colossians, Paul says,

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” - Colossians 1:16 ESV

This statement excludes no person or thing. Everything we see was done by Him. All things known to man and things still hidden are designs of a wonderful Creator. Many mighty rulers of the world are known to have built monuments and wonders which represented their love or honor for whomever it was built. God created ALL things, but it was done for HIM. His glory, His name, His honor, His praise, and His majesty. Again, the Scripture is being clear so that God’s purposes will not be overlooked.


God is fully sufficient in himself and is not in need of anything.

2. God led the people of Israel for His own glory

We often find ourselves drawing examples from the way the Israelites lived. We apply the promises given to them, study God’s provision upon them, and trust God to lead us accordingly. However, it is important that we use the works of God for his people to study His nature. What was God’s intention and purpose behind the leading of his people? Again, his words are very clear.


“Our fathers, when they were in Egypt, did not consider your wondrous works; they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love, but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.” - Psalms 106:7-8 ESV

This Psalm recounts the ways that God led the Israelites. It reminds us of the heart of God’s people even as they were being delivered from slavery in Egypt. Their repeated failures and disobedience towards God is a reality this Psalm brings to light. However, we see God continuing to provide for them, leading them, and showing mercy to them. I repeat the same question, what was God’s motive? For His name’s sake. We see a God who, while His name is being profaned, acts in mercy for the honor of His name and exaltation of His glory.

“And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."” - Isaiah 49:3 ESV

God is speaking through the prophet about the deliverance of the Jews out of Babylon. It is a promise of God made to His people. Yes, through these chapters we see so much of the nature of God and what it is He desires. However, one thing is made known by God himself, that through Israel, He will be glorified. God is saying that He is going to deliver them, lead them, and that they are being held by God and for God.


“But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. "Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.” - Ezekiel 20:8-9 ESV

Why did God act? Why did he deliver them from Egypt? Why did he lead them and give them his laws? One purpose. The name of God was being profaned rather than glorified. The name of God was being cast aside rather than honored. So in order to reveal Himself and His intentions, he acted for the sake of His name. No matter how far they drifted from Him or how close they seemed to experience Him, He did it all for the glory of His name.

3. Jesus came to the earth for the glory of God the Father

In John chapter 7, we see Jesus in the temple responding to the Jews question of Him teaching without being taught. He says,

"My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.” - John 7:15-18 ESV

Jesus is emphasizing the importance of doing all things within God’s will and for God’s glory. When Jesus is speaking these things, we must make sure we realize that Jesus did not give up his deity when He came to earth. Throughout the New Testament we understand that Jesus was fully man and at the same time, fully God. What Jesus is teaching here is to do all things for the glory of God. Paul writes in Philippians that Jesus,

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.” – Philippians 2:6 ESV

He has come down to earth in obedience to the Father God and is proving that all that He does or teaches is to glorify that name. Not only was the ministry of Jesus glorifying the Father, but also the primary purpose of Him coming to earth was to glorify the Father as well.

“"Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven: "I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again."” - John 12:27-28 ESV

Jesus is predicting His death here. We often wonder what Jesus was praying about in the garden of Gethsemane when He asked for the cup to be taken from Him. It was a cup He was given to drink, figuratively speaking. Was the cup the nails in His hands and feet? Was it the thorns on His head? Was it the beatings and floggings He’d endure? Was it the cross He’d have to carry? I’d say that was not what Jesus saw. Many apostles and men of God have endured such heinous persecution and deaths all the while rejoicing and praising God. So what was the Son of God speaking of?


We can understand that on the cross, the fullness of the wrath of God would be poured upon Him. The Father would justly punish the sinless Lamb for the salvation of man. Jesus asks for this cup to be taken away if possible, but then asks for His Father’s will to be done. In this passage we see what that will was: “Father, glorify your name.” That was the desire of the Son and that is what God did on the cross of Calvary. This leads us to our next point.

4. God saved us for His own glory.

The entire scripture tells of one story: the plan of redemption in the heart of God through His Son. It is the theme of our gospel and the hope of mankind. So then, how was God’s glory revealed in our salvation? We read in Romans,

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.” - Romans 3:23-27 ESV

We see that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory. We were then justified, not by our works or worth, but the very grace of God. If salvation was to be given based on man’s merit or worth, then all men would be cast to eternal damnation without any hope at all. However, God chose to have mercy on us while punishing his Son, and in doing so, showed His righteousness, for His Glory. Was there anything we contributed? Was there anything that we did to convince God to have mercy? We can see the answer in the book of Isaiah.

“You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities. "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” - Isaiah 43:24-25 ESV

There was nothing we could have brought to God for redemption. No works or sacrifice could make us righteous. So then, why did God blot out our transgressions? For His own sake. The forgiveness of God shown to us and the mercy that He gave was to show how great He is. It was to bring all men into a revelation of His grace and to admit that all glory belongs to Him alone. God’s salvation leads us not just to self-affirmation, but to glorification of the One who gave it to us freely. It was the work of God alone, and to Him alone belongs all the glory.


God’s salvation leads us not just to self-affirmation, but to glorification of the One who gave it to us freely.

5. Our lives must always reflect the glory of God.

As God Glorifies himself through all that he does in the world and in our lives, we are called to glorify His name in all that we do.

“Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” - 1 Peter 4:11 ESV

Whatever profession we may be in or whatever ministry God has called us into, our ultimate desire should be to use that for the glorification of God’s name. We must realize that all that we have is from God, so we have nothing to even claim for ourselves or even boast about.

“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” - Romans 11:36 ESV

If we ascribe any glory to man, it would be glory that is stolen from God. There is no service too big nor too small for a child of God, for in all of it, all honor and praise is God’s alone.

Why were we purchased by the blood of Jesus?

“and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” - 2 Corinthians 5:15 ESV

So that we would no longer live for ourselves. It would no longer be our pleasures and desires but rather satisfaction in the person of Christ. If one sees me, let their eyes be directed upon the beauty of Christ and not the attention we so often crave. So what’s our ultimate motivation?

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” - 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

Again, it is not just the great preaching or the powerful worship that brings glory to God. Rather, He desires to be glorified in every minute detail of our lives. Let all of our motivations be to bring honor and glory to His name and in doing so, increase our joy in the service of His kingdom.

We’ve seen through just a few passages, the ultimate desire for God is the glory of His name. He was glorified in creation, He was glorified through his leading of the Israelites, He was glorified through His Son Jesus Christ, He was glorified in redeeming us through the work of the cross, and He desires to be glorified in every aspect of our lives. Our podcast is dedicated to encourage you all to engage in Christ centered worship. We want all of our songs and ministry to be focused on bringing glory to God's name. Let us go into each service with the desire to have God's name lifted up and exalted. Let us show the works that He has done and allow people to come to a realization of how beautiful and majestic our God is. Turning our eyes away from our value and what we can gain through Jesus, and fixing our eyes on the cross, praising Him for his love, glorifying Him for his worth, and worshiping by the mercies of God.


Blessings,

The Honest Worship Podcast

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Here are some songs to sing that speak of the glory and praise of God.


"O Praise The Name" - Hillsong Worship


"How Great Is Our God" - Hillsong Worship


"How Deep The Father's Love" - Austin Stone Worship






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